Automatically-operating door.



No. 738,134. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903. J. H. WHITAKER. AUTOMATICALLYOPERATING DOOR.

Arrmonmx nun mm; 2a, 1902. no 101121.. 2 sums-sum '1.

I I l I l I l I I l I I I I I I I I l I I l I I I III g II I l 1/Ill/IIIL'I IIIIIIIIUIIl/IIL 1 FIG 3 WITNESSES l/VVENTOI? 'No. 738,134.PATENTED'SEPT. 1, 1903,

J. H. WHITAKER. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING DOOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 23. 1902.

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NITED STATES JOHN ll.

Fatented September 1, 190

WHITAKER, OF DAVENPORT, IOlVA;

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATING DOOR.

SP EGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,134, datedSeptember 1, 1903.

Application filed June 23,1902. Serial No. 112,893. (No modeLi To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. WHITAKER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and Stateof Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatically- Operating Doors,of which the following specification,taken in connection with the drawings making a part of the same, is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of automaticallyoperating doorswhich are opened and closed bymcans of mechanism connected with thedoor, which mechanism is actuated through. the depression of a treadplate slightly elevated above the floor and located a short distancefrom the door. Various forms of mechanism for so operating doors aredisclosed in my Patents 1\ o.;t96,027, dated April 25, 1893; No.505,376, dated September 19, 1803; No. 632,299, dated September5,1899,and No. 658,113, dated September 25, 1900. All of these patents disclosemechanism adapted to open. and close what are commonly termed slidingdoors.

My present invention is adapted for opening and closing swinging doors;and its chief object consists in providing mechanism by which swingingdoors may be opened through the depression of a plate or platformlocated a short distance from the doors and after being opened remainopen until the person has passed through the doorway, also to providemechanism by which the opened doors may be closed by the depression of aplate or foot-lever located in the path of the person after passingthrough the opened doorway.

A further object is to produce mechanism for accomplishing the objectsnamed which shallbe simple in construction, occupy a minimum amount ofspace, and which is not likely to get out of order through use.

Other minor objects will be apparent from the following description andreference to the drawings, in whioh Figure 1 is a plan view of twoswinging doors hung upon hinges secured to the doorjamb at each side ofthe doorway, the doorjambs, and mechanism by which the doors are opened.Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the doorjambs and the operatingmechanism,

taken on the line a a of Fig. 1. and viewed in g Fig. 3 shows theconnection between the op crating-lever resting upon the floor and theparts which direct and control the movement of the door, taken 011 theline Z) Z) of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the mechanism forcatching and holding open the doors when they have been opened by theperson passing therethrough and of the releasing-lever. Fig. 5 is anelevation of the door-jamb and opened door, with the releasing lever insection on the line (Z (Z of Fig. 4C and viewed in the direction of thearrow shown in said Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification ofthe mechanism for holding the door open and of the releasing device.Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof, the foot-lever or tread plate beingshown in cross-section. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the guide-bracketsand parts operating therewith, sectioned on the line 0 c of Fig. Fig. 9is a perspective view of the guide and adjacent parts, the rod 17 beingomitted.

As the mechanism for opening the two doors, the means for holding themopen, and for releasing them are in all respects identical, theoperating-lever connecting the mechanism at both doors, and both beingoperated simultaneously by the weight of the person upon the tread-plateconnected with the operating-lever or the releasinglever, I will, indescribin g my invention, simply refer to one of such sets of operatingmechanism, it being now understood that such reference includes bothdoors and the mechanism connected therewith.

In the drawings, 1 represents the floor; 2, the door-jamb; 3, the door,which is secured to the door-jamb by hinges in the well-known and usualway.

4 is the operating-lever.

4; is a plate made integral with the lever 4 and slightly elevated abovethe floor.

5 is the floor-plate,composed of metal strips resting upon the floor andof such form that the operating-lever and tread-plate may rest upon it.

5 5 are upwardly-projecting pins secured to or made integral with theinner and longer strip of the floor-plate 5 and are adapted to entercorresponding holes in the under side of the operating-lever 4,whichholes are somewhat larger in diameter than the pins. 5 5 are similarupwardly-projecting pins secured to or made integral with the outer andshorter strip of the floor-plate 5.

6 is the tread-plate, provided with perforations near one edge whichcorrespond with the pins 5 5 and into and through which said pins passThe opposite edge of said treadplate laps over the edge of and restsupon the elevated plate at.

7 7 are guards composed of rubber or other material, which maybe securedto the floor or to the metal strips of the floor-plate adjacent to plate4 and tread-plate 6 for the purpose of obviating the danger of catchingones foot under the elevated tread-plate. The inner extremities of theoperating-lever are bent at right angles and greatly reduced in size andform pins or lugs 4t".

8 is a bracket secured to the lower edge of the door-jamb and having twovertical parallel guide-ribs 8 8. The pin-like extremity of theoperating-lever 4 rests in the space between such parallel ribs and isguided vertically thereby.

9 is a short pin secured to or made integral with the operating-levernear its inner extremity and projecting horizontally therefrom in adirection opposite to that of the pin-like extremity of saidoperating-lever. Loosely connected with this pin or lug is the rod 10,which is secured to and vertically adjustable in the lower end of theweighted tube 11, the part 11 being threaded in the end of the tube. Thetube 11 is adapted to be weighted, as may be found necessary in theoperation of my invention, and for that reason I find it convenient toconstruct said tube of gas-pipe, into which lead of the required weightmay be inserted. To the upper extremity of said tube 11 are looselysecured the spreading-arms 12 12, their lower ends being mounted on abolt or pin 12, which may be secured to the upper end of the tube in anysuitable manner.

1 3 is a bracket provided with a hook or ring and fastened to thedoor-jamb by screws or any other suitable means. To the hook or ring onthis bracket is fastened by a loose connection the upper extremity ofthe arm 12. To the side of the door, near its rear edge, is secured abracket 14, similar to the bracket 13, and to the hook or ring thereofis fastened the upper end of the arm 12.

Secured vertically to the door-jamb in any suitable manner is anoil-chamber 15, located above the weighted tube 11 and on a linetherewith. A pistonrod and plunger of ordinary construction are placedwithin said oil-chamber to operate therein. Said pistonrod at its upperend is connected with a rectangular movable frame 16, which surroundsloosely connected with the pin-like extremity of the operating-le\-'erat adjacent to the ribs on the bracket.

From the foregoing explanation and description it will now be seen thatby stepping upon the tread-plate 6 the lever-plate at will be depressed,and in consequence the operating-lever 4 will be rocked on the fulcrumformed by the pins 5 5 and the lever 4 resting thereon. The innerextremities of said lever 4 will be elevated, being guided in theirvertical movement by the guide-ribs of the bracket 8. The rod 10 beingoperatively c011- nected with the operating-lever 4, through its looseconnection with the pin 9, said rod and weighted tube 11 will beelevated simultaneously with the inner extremity ofthe lever 4. Theupper ends of the spreading-arms 12 and 12 being fastened to thestationary brackets 13 and 14 on the door-jamb and door, respectively,said upper ends cannot rise. In consequence of the loose connect-ionbetween the upper end of the tube 11 and lower ends of arms 12 and 12the arm 12, through the rising action of the tube 11, will cause thedoor 3 to be swung open on its hinges and the door and operatingmechanism will assume the relative locations shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 2. There being two doors and two sets ofmechanism, as explained,operated simultaneously through the action of the operating-lever, bothdoors will be opened at the same time.

I will now describe the mechanism by which the doors are held open untilthe person has passed through the doorway and by which they are releasedand closed.

In Figs. tand 5, 18 18 are brackets, fastened to the floor byscrews orotherwise, each having an upwardly-proj ecting pin or post 1818. 19 isthe releasing-lever, having a central plate 19 slightly elevated abovethe floor. 20 is the tread-plate, provided with two short pins or posts20 20 on its under side. Corresponding holes may be provided in thefloor to receive said posts 2O 20. The opposite edge of said tread-platelaps over and rests upon the central plate 19. The extremities of saidlever 19 have secured thereto curved spring-metal catches 21 ,beveled attheir ends. 22 is a stop-block to limit the backward swing of the door.28 represents a slot cut from the door near the bottom of the front edgethereof, and I prefer to cover that portion of the door immediatelyadjacent to the slot with sheet metal or brass. When the person hasstepped upon the tread-plate 6,the door will be opened. Then itapproaches a position substantially at right angles to its closedposition, it will strike the curved portion of the metal catch, thelatter yielding to the pressure of the swinging door. As soon as thedoor has passed the metal catch the latter will spring back to itsnormal position, thus holding the door open and causing it to remainstationary be tween the catch and the stop-block 22. The person afterpassing through the doorway will step upon the tread-plate 20, whichwill cause the releasing-lever 19 to rock on its pivots or fulcrum andraise the extremities and the spring-metal catches attached theretountil the beveled ends of said catches come into the path of the slot23. The weighted tube 11 being held in an elevated'position by reason ofthe door being held open and the latter being free to slip past thecatch 21, owing to the slot 23, said weighted tube and attachedmechanism will seek their normal positions and in descending will ofcourse swing the door to.

A modification of the releasing mechanism is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, inwhich the arms of the releasing-lever 19 are provided with a break orjoint, as shown at 24, and their extremities with a friction-block 25.In this modification the slot 23 will be dispensed with 5 but I preferto cover the lower front corner of the door where it engages thefrictionblock with sheet metal. lVhen the door in opening approaches aposition substantially at right angles to its closed position, themetal-covered corner will strike the frictionblock, which is slightlybeveled and may be faced with rubber. As indicated at Fig. 6, it will beheld open through its contact with the friction-block. In themodification I have not shown the tread plate 20, but simply theelevated plate 19. Atter the person has passed through the doorway bystepping upon the elevated plate 1!) the releasinglever will rock on itsfulcrum or pivot, which will raise the break or joint 2i, and inconsequence draw the friction-block 25 away from the door, as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 7, releasing the latter and allowing it to swingto through the action of the weighted tube 11, as hereinbeforeexplained.

In order to prevent the too sudden closing of the door, I have providedthe oil-chamber mechanism already described. It will be seen that whenthe door is opened the piston-rod carrying the plunger, by reason of itsconnection with the rectangular frame and rod 17, will be elevated, andwhen the door swings to the plunger will descend in the oil-chamber andwill be retarded in its descent by the oil therein, thus acting as acushion for the closing door and causing it to close gently andsmoothly.

Various changes and modifications of the mechanism I have here shownwill readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and I donot, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting the scope of myinvention to the precise constructions here disclosed; but

Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatically-operated swinging door, a foot-operated lever,two spreading arms, one of which has its upper end secured to thedoor-jamb, the other similarly secured to the door, and a weighted tubeor red to whose upper end the lower ends of said arms are looselysecured, said rod or tube being connected with and actuated by thefoot-operated lever for the purposes herein stated.

2. In an automatically-operated swinging door,the combination of afoot-operated lever, two spreader-arms, one of which has an arm securedto the door-jamb, the other arm being similarly secured to the door,aweighted member in the form of a rod or tube to which the other ends ofsaid arms are secured, said weighted member being connected with andactuated by the foot-operated lever, means for holding said door in anopen position, and a foot-operated releasing-lever.

3. In an automatically-swinging door, the combination of a foot-operatedlever, two spreader-arms, one of which has its upper end secured to ajamb, the other arm being similarly secured to the door, a weightedmember to whose upper end the lower ends of the arms are looselysecured, said weighted member being connected with and actuated by thefoot-operated lever, a lever provided with a catch, whereby the door isheld in an open position, foot-operated means for raising the innerextremity of said last-named lever for releasing the door from its openposition; an oil-chamber, a piston-rod operating therein and means foroperatively connecting the piston-rod with the inner extremity of thefootoperated lever first named.

i. In a device of the character described, a foot -operated lever, aweighted member loosely connected to the lever, arms loosely connectedto the weighted member, a door to which one of the arms is connected,and a support fixed with relation to the door to which the other arm isconnected.

5. In an automatically-operated swinging door, a bracket secured to thedoor-jamb and provided with two parallel vertical guide-ribs adjacent toeach other, and a foot-operated lever whose inner extremity movesvertically between said guide-ribs, in combination with a weighted tubeor red whose lower end is loosely secured to said lever near its innerextremity, and a pair of spreading-arms, whose upper ends are secured,one to the door-jamb, the other to the door, the lower ends of bothbeing loosely secured to the upper end of the weighted tube or red forthe purposes stated and substantially as described.

6. In an automatically-operated swinging door, a foot-operated lever,having a central plate elevated above the floor, a supportingplateadapted to rest upon the fioor and to sustain the lever, a tread-platemounted upon the supporting plate and overlapping the central plate ofthe lever, a bracket secured to the door-jamb adjacent to the floor andhavingvertical guide-ribs for the inner extremity of the lever; aweighted tube or rod whose lower end is loosely connected with the extremity of the lever, two spreading arms whose lower ends are looselyconnected with the upper end of the weighted tube, the upper end of oneof such arms secured to the door-jamb and the upper end of the other armto the swinging door; an oil-chamber secured to the door-jamb, a plungerand piston-rod adapted to move vertically in the oil-chamber, meansconnected to the piston-rod and to the inner extremity of thefoot-operated lever to cause the plunger to rise and descendsimultaneously with such lever extremity; means for catching and holdingthe door in an opened position, a releasing foot-operated lever, with acentral plate elevated above the floor, brackets secured to the floorupon which the releasing-lever is mounted, a tread-plate,

one edge of which rests upon the floor, its opposite edge overlappingand resting upon the elevated central plate of the releasing-lever; allfor the purposes stated and substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my name, in the presence oftwo witnesses, 20 this 16th day of June, 1902.

JOHN H. \VHITAKER.

In presence of- I. O. ANDERSON, T. O. DAVIS.

